Official form guide
Form F11: Response to general protections application
Form F11 is an application to the Fair Work Commission to have it deal with a bargaining dispute. Use it when you are a bargaining representative for a proposed enterprise agreement and need the Commission’s intervention.
Need help with Form F11?
Open it in the AI Editor for field guidance, checks, and PDF export.
Form Overview
Fair Work Commission Form F11 - Response to general protections application
Form F11 is an application to the Fair Work Commission to have it deal with a bargaining dispute. Use it when you are a bargaining representative for a proposed enterprise agreement and need the Commission’s intervention.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Most people forget to serve copies on all other bargaining representatives.
- 2Leaving out the required notices from the applicant or respondents
- 3Failing to serve a copy on every respondent and other bargaining representatives
- 4Providing incomplete or incorrect business details (ACN/ABN)
- 5Not indicating whether an interpreter is needed
Plain English
If you’re the person representing an employer or a union in a collective bargaining process and the talks have hit a snag, you fill out this form to ask the Fair Work Commission to step in. It’s a short paper that tells the Commission who you are, what kind of agreement you’re negotiating, and what the dispute is about.
Submission Date
- Filing date: Submit the form as soon as practicable after deciding the dispute needs Commission assistance, once bargaining has commenced.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
AI co-pilot
Fill it faster. Catch mistakes before you file.
What this form is for
- You are a bargaining representative for a proposed enterprise agreement and need the Commission to intervene in a bargaining dispute.
- You must include a copy of each notice issued by any party since bargaining commenced.
- You need to lodge the application and then serve a copy on every respondent and other bargaining representatives.
- You are signing the form in the capacity of Applicant, your position title, or as a Representative.
- You are not seeking legal advice from Commission staff; the form is for procedural use only.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Need to give notice of a lawyer or paid agent for a hearing
Required to inform the Commission and seek permission for participation in a conference or hearing
✓ Verify you actually need a lawyer/paid agent in the matter
General protections claim rather than a bargaining dispute
Different form is used for general protections applications
✓ Check the Fair Work Commission website for the correct form
Request to vary an existing enterprise agreement
A different application (e.g., Form F15) may be required
✓ Confirm the purpose of your request before using F11
Deadline or filing window
There is no fixed statutory deadline, but the form should be lodged as soon as practicable after the dispute arises to avoid delays in Commission action.
Before you submit
- 1All respondent details (legal name, ACN/ABN, contact) are filled in.
- 2Industry of each employer is entered in the Preliminary section.
- 3Every notice issued since bargaining started is attached.
- 4Correct authority to sign is selected and signature (or typed name) is provided.
- 5Date of signing is entered.
- 6A copy of the completed form is retained for your records.
- 7You have chosen a lodging method (email, post, or in‑person).
- 8Service copies are ready to be sent to each respondent and bargaining representative.
- 9If a lawyer/paid agent will attend a hearing, a Form F53 has been lodged.
- 10Privacy notice has been read or a hard copy requested.
How to file this form
- 1Complete all sections of Form F11, including respondent details and industry information.
- 2Attach copies of every notice issued since bargaining commenced.
- 3Lodge the form with the Commission – email to [email protected], or post/in‑person at the state/territory office.
- 4As soon as practicable, serve a copy of the lodged documents on each respondent and all other bargaining representatives (email, express post, or registered post).
- 5Retain a full copy of the lodged form and proof of service for your records.
- 6If you plan to have a lawyer or paid agent participate in a hearing, ensure Form F53 has been lodged and permission obtained.
- 7Monitor any acknowledgement from the Commission and follow any further directions.
Known limitations
- 1Commission staff cannot provide legal advice.
- 2Lawyers or paid agents need a Form F53 notice and permission to appear at a conference or hearing, unless an exception applies.
- 3The form only covers bargaining disputes; other matters require different forms.
- 4All notices issued since bargaining commenced must be attached; missing a notice may delay the application.
- 5Service must comply with Part 5 of Chapter 1 and Schedule 1 of the Fair Work Commission Rules 2024.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Applicant
1 items
Full name (and representative, if any), postal address, email, and phone number of the person or organisation lodging the application.
Respondent
1 items
The exact legal name and ABN of the employer or other party the application is made against.
The Matter
2 items
Identify the kind of matter — for example, unfair dismissal, general protections, or an agreement application.
A clear description of what happened, relevant dates, and the outcome you are seeking.
Dates
1 items
Relevant dates such as the date of dismissal or the date the issue arose — these determine whether you are within time.
Supporting
1 items
Any documents that support your application, such as letters, contracts, or notices.
Declaration
1 items
Sign and date the form. Applications may also require a fee or an application for a fee waiver.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->Form F11 is approved for use from 17 September 2025 and remains the current form for applying to the Fair Work Commission to deal with a bargaining dispute.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Confirm the form version is the one approved on 17 Sep 2025.
- Check the representation rules – whether a lawyer or paid agent needs a Form F53 notice.
- Verify you have attached all notices issued since bargaining commenced.
- Review the privacy notice section for any updates.
- Ensure the ‘Authority to sign’ field matches your role (Applicant, position title, or Representative).
Quick Facts
Downloads & source
Sources
- SRCForm approved with effect from 17 September 2025confirmed in source.
- SRCLodging methods (email to [email protected], post, in‑person)confirmed in source.
- SRCService requirement to each respondent and bargaining representativesconfirmed in source.
- SRCRepresentation restrictions and need for Form F53 for lawyer/paid agent participationconfirmed in source.
- SRCAuthority to sign options (Applicant, position title, Representative)confirmed in source.
- SRCPrivacy collection statementconfirmed in source.
- SRCRequirement to attach notices issued since bargaining commencedconfirmed in source.
- SRCForm for general protections applicationnot confirmed in official source.
Common confusion points
Mixing up the ‘Authority to sign’ – using the wrong label (e.g., signing as ‘Applicant’ when you are a Representative).
Failing to attach every notice issued since bargaining commenced.
Using Form F11 for a general protections claim instead of the appropriate form.
Assuming a lawyer can attend a hearing without filing Form F53 and obtaining permission.
Not serving all respondents and other bargaining representatives as required.
Overlooking the privacy notice and the Commission’s right to share the information.
Submitting the form without keeping a personal copy for records.
Choosing the wrong lodging method and not confirming delivery.
Source transparency
Copyright & Licensing — Australian Government Forms
BrieflyGo links to and explains official public form sources. We are not a government agency, and this page is for general form guidance, not legal advice.
Understand the agreement before you sign it.
Review risky clauses in plain English, fix the document, and keep it moving toward signature.